The Silver Seas

By Michelle Gilzenrat

Photo by Jonathon Kingsbury

The Silver Seas have only existed as such for a few months, but the band's collective musical career has been generations in the making.

The Nashville group was recently persuaded to change its name after eight years as the "The Bees (U.S.)." That pesky parenthetical subtitle that had to be tacked on once the UK band of the same name started gaining popularity, but it ended up being not quite enough. The name just became too cumbersome for a band that has its sights set on international exposure.

"Plus," quips front man Daniel Tashian, "It was a logical progression to go from the 'Bs' to the C's."

Although Tashian was initially bummed about abandoning the original name, he has since come to appreciate the renewed inspiration that followed the change. It is an apt declaration of the next stage of Tashian's long musical journey.

After all, as new as "The Silver Seas" may be, the primary songwriters behind the project, Tashian along with producer/keyboardist Jason Lehning, have been in the business since they came out of the womb.

Both were born into a family of music and speak with great admiration of their respective fathers' influence. In fact, Lehning's work as an engineer under his father, producer Kyle Lehning, won them both a Grammy for working with Randy Travis.

Tashian likewise credits his father for launching him into a life of music. Dad Barry lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle as lead singer of '60s cult combo The Remains. For Tashian, the actual music lessons were less important than being raised in an environment where a career in music was considered a viable option. It was a path he took to heart quickly and passionately. By age 18, Tashian was already signed as a solo artist to Elektra Records.

He's still proud of the songs he wrote 10 years ago, but at the time he felt isolated as a solo artist and frustrated by his own limitations as a musician. It was not until recently, with a great set of collaborators and an acquired skill set, that Tashian feels like he is making the music he's always wanted to make.

Cheap Lullaby would agree. The California label eagerly signed The Silver Seas after catching their riveting set opening for Guster last fall in Indiana, of all places. The October re-release of High Society will be the first record to bare The Silver Seas' name.

It should be smooth sailing as High Society already generated a good bit of buzz under their old name. There is an almost magical sense of inherent beauty in each track on it that makes these pop gems irresistible. Put The Silver Seas in your headphones and soon the sweeping '70s harmonies wash through headphones and melt the world away. Tashian's voice is particularly exceptional, registering somewhere along the lines of a Rufus Wainwright minus the theatrical frills. Dad must have taught him well.

There is also a sense of sincerity in The Silver Seas' delivery that allows those harmonies to sound lush yet not overly produced. This is due in no small part to Lehning's masterful (if inherited) ear. Lehning tracked the entire record live over a couple days and made great efforts to convey the honest sound of the room to the listener.

"There is so much technology now that can allow you to have unlimited options," says Lehning. "We have to invent our own limitations because we want the record to have a certain sonic character. More often than not, that character is derived by what you don't do as opposed to what you do."

It might have taken a decade to get it all right, but the Silver Seas are finally set. They have the ideal pairing of a gifted singer-songwriter with an acclaimed producer, a name that can be used around the world, and a label to help take them there.

www.thesilverseas.net